Columbus reconsidered a few months later; but by that time, the railway had already chosen a route well to the west of the town.

Artesia was the site of a voter suppression incident in 1876 in which a group of heavily armed white men from Starkville came to intimidate black voters in the Republican Club.

[2] Federal troops were called to intervene, which enraged many whites, who depicted the event as a negro riot.

The racial makeup of the town was 79.32% African American, 19.88% White, 0.20% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, and 0.20% from two or more races.

27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The Town of Artesia is served by the Lowndes County School District.